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I have a Model 52B .22 rifle produced in 1938 and am seeking to find a replacement bolt assembly for it. The rifle was my father’s and in his later years with Alzheimer’s disease he must have removed the bolt and I could never find it in my parent’s house. Through working with my gunsmith, it is apparent that the bolt must be specifically for a model 52B. I bought parts from a parts supply company and had them assembled by my gunsmith but they amounted to a Browning replica of Japanese design/production (52R) and would not fit in my weapon. I’ve been told I’ll be very lucky to find a replacement, and that I might be so lucky as to find one at a garage sale that someone has sitting around. I’ve seen a model 52B advertised at a couple gun parts companies but with the note “out of stock” at both companies. If there is anyone who has a 52B bolt or knows how to get one I would be most grateful. By the way, I checked with Browning and Winchester Repeating Arms Co, to no avail. I would love to get my father’s gun back in working order. I live in Ahwahnee, CA.
Dennis Fahr
Considering the responses I’ve received from the above, the bolt I had assembled by my gunsmith is available and I would like to sell it for the price of the parts- $250. I’m not sure which model Winchester 52 it would fit, just not a 52B. I would offer a full refund if it did not fit.
Thanks.
Dennis
Online
How badly are you willing to be screwed?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274843301124?hash=item3ffdeff504:g:DOgAAOSwkwFgIv8~
You can buy a complete rifle for a few hundred more. $300 would be a fair price for a bolt. If I were you, I’d try to resist the impulse to buy this now, & wait to see if this scalper lowers his outrageous price. Loose bolts may be few & far between, but so are the folks like you in need for one.
Your sad story of a missing bolt is one that’s not uncommon. There’s no sensable reason to separate a bolt from its rcvr., & those who do it are asking for this happen.
Yup, $300 is about the going price for a 52B bolt and, as Clarence mentioned, a complete 52B can usually be had (at the low end) for about $800, less without sights.
Not only is patience a virtue, it will save you $100’s of dollars if you keep shopping for the right deal.
In my opinion (and I am SURE I will draw some flack) the 52Bs are the LEAST desirable of the 52s. They do not have the “coolness” factor of the finger grooves and ladder sight, the “scarce-ness” of the un-modified 52A, the awesome trigger of the 52C nor the accuracy of the single-shot 52D/E.
I completely understand your heritage desire to return your father’s 52B to shooting condition and I applaud that, just be patient and the right bolt will come along.
Finally, please don’t get me wrong, the 52B is a GREAT rifle, just not the pinnacle in the 52 series.
Hope I did not offend…..
Best Regards,
.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
In my opinion (and I am SURE I will draw some flack) the 52Bs are the LEAST desirable of the 52s.
Not from ME! The B’s trigger design requires compression of a spring that makes it feel almost like the Slow Lock’s “cock on closing” action. Hard to believe WRA considered this an improvement over the A, but it might have been a result of the B’s new (& pointless) safety. Shooter’s dissatisfaction with the B made it possible for Rem’s M. 37 to gain a sales advantage.
A lot of matches were won with the 52B back then. Its a great starting point for anyone getting into position shooting. Sure theres better bang for buck but thats why we collect. Try buying a 5rd magazine for a M37.
i still havent found an unmolested 52a at gravedigger salary.
44
XLIV said p
i still havent found an unmolested 52a at gravedigger salary.
44
Thought you retired? Wouldn’t that be a “gravedigger’s pension”?
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Every time I try to get out they draaaaw me back in. Only digging about 2 a month these days. Missed the Missoula show last week for a service. Might have found that elusive $100 52A.
Panhandle soon?
44
XLIV said
Might have found that elusive $100 52A.
That one was sold to another dealer (as usual) before the show opened.
XLIV said
Panhandle soon?44
No, I wish. Have a job up there but not until next spring. Will let you know.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
clarence said
How badly are you willing to be screwed?https://www.ebay.com/itm/274843301124?hash=item3ffdeff504:g:DOgAAOSwkwFgIv8~
You can buy a complete rifle for a few hundred more. $300 would be a fair price for a bolt. If I were you, I’d try to resist the impulse to buy this now, & wait to see if this scalper lowers his outrageous price. Loose bolts may be few & far between, but so are the folks like you in need for one.
Your sad story of a missing bolt is one that’s not uncommon. There’s no sensable reason to separate a bolt from its rcvr., & those who do it are asking for this happen.
Clarence,
Thanks for the feedback and fair price rec. BTW I did actually purchase subject bolt from ebay 
banking on the refund policy which worked for me! The bolt actually turned out to not be a 52B as advertised but exactly like the 52R that I have that doesn’t fit either. Yes no sensible reason to separate the bolt but Alzheimer’s makes folks do non sensible things! Maybe I’ll get a chance to ask my dad what he did with it in eternity.
Dennis Fahr said
Clarence,
Thanks for the feedback and fair price rec. BTW I did actually purchase subject bolt from ebay
Do you mean you bought it at that outrageous price & got your money back? What did that rip-off artist have to say?
Don’t have to explain Alzheimer’s to me–my father succumbed to it while he was still trying to run our family business; about 5 yrs of utter chaos before I could get him into a “home.” But many non-Alzheimer’s owners do it for the most frivolous of reasons, like “won’t fit into my safe.”
Often, a component part is separated from a firearm to purposefully make a firearm nonfunctional and becomes inadvertently forever separated. The reason for this is to prevent harm to family members, for instance, such as when the grandkids come over for a few days.
I remove my bolts and place them on the shelf above my rifles in the safe so they don’t bang into other rifles. Also let’s me fit more Winchesters in the safe.
I made tags for everything and try to be very meticulous for fear of this exact thing happening however.
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
mrcvs said
Often, a component part is separated from a firearm to purposefully make a firearm nonfunctional and becomes inadvertently forever separated. The reason for this is to prevent harm to family members, for instance, such as when the grandkids come over for a few days.
Should think it would be wiser to teach them gun safety. I wouldn’t permit anyone inside my house I couldn’t trust.
clarence said
Should think it would be wiser to teach them gun safety. I wouldn’t permit anyone inside my house I couldn’t trust.
I’m not saying I don’t agree with that, it’s just what is done sometimes.
Well meaning family members do some insensible things sometimes. Teach your kids Gun safety instead!
JWA said
Yup, $300 is about the going price for a 52B bolt and, as Clarence mentioned, a complete 52B can usually be had (at the low end) for about $800, less without sights.Not only is patience a virtue, it will save you $100’s of dollars if you keep shopping for the right deal.
In my opinion (and I am SURE I will draw some flack) the 52Bs are the LEAST desirable of the 52s. They do not have the “coolness” factor of the finger grooves and ladder sight, the “scarce-ness” of the un-modified 52A, the awesome trigger of the 52C nor the accuracy of the single-shot 52D/E.
I completely understand your heritage desire to return your father’s 52B to shooting condition and I applaud that, just be patient and the right bolt will come along.
Finally, please don’t get me wrong, the 52B is a GREAT rifle, just not the pinnacle in the 52 series.
Hope I did not offend…..
Best Regards,
.
JWA, Thanks for the feedback. No offense taken. Will be patient and wait for the right bolt. 
XLIV said
A lot of matches were won with the 52B back then. Its a great starting point for anyone getting into position shooting. Sure theres better bang for buck but thats why we collect. Try buying a 5rd magazine for a M37.i still havent found an unmolested 52a at gravedigger salary.
44
44, Thanks for the feedback.
clarence said
Dennis Fahr said
Clarence,
Thanks for the feedback and fair price rec. BTW I did actually purchase subject bolt from ebay
Do you mean you bought it at that outrageous price & got your money back? What did that rip-off artist have to say?
Don’t have to explain Alzheimer’s to me–my father succumbed to it while he was still trying to run our family business; about 5 yrs of utter chaos before I could get him into a “home.” But many non-Alzheimer’s owners do it for the most frivolous of reasons, like “won’t fit into my safe.”
Yes, I actually bought it thinking it was finally the right one and did get reimbursed (banked on e-bay return policy). They did ask if my gunsmith was aware the bolt needed to be inserted in the “cocked” position, to which my gunsmith coolly responded “yes I’m aware.” (it just didn’t fit). That was all the pushback. Apparently it’s still being offered on e-bay as a 52B. Don’t think so! Sorry you had to go through the same Alzheimer’s experience.
mrcvs said
Often, a component part is separated from a firearm to purposefully make a firearm nonfunctional and becomes inadvertently forever separated. The reason for this is to prevent harm to family members, for instance, such as when the grandkids come over for a few days.
mrcvs, thanks. Plausible explanation. No way of telling when he did it. By the time I took possession, there was no reasoning possible with my dad
.
Dennis Fahr said
JWA, Thanks for the feedback. No offense taken. Will be patient and wait for the right bolt.
I ran across that one because I have a “Winchester Model 52” Saved Search on ebay. 90% of the time the only “hits” are mags–lots of those. To defeat the garbage merchants who’d otherwise overload the search with small ads cut out of gun mags (who’d buy them?), I include in my search terms a long string of “nots”: -ad, -ads, -advertisement.
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